Sounding
something like a Science Fiction TV Program,
Project 195X was the initial codename for the Ford
Anglia105E.These days we are used to long
development programmes for modern cars. It wasn't
always the same story back in the early post war
years, but the Ford Anglia105E actually had quite a lengthy
evolution process. The "new" Ford
Anglia 100E was launched in October 1953, but
less than a year later, in September 1954, Ford
had started work on Project 195X, the replacement
for the 100E.

Right
from the start it was clear that the new Ford
Anglia was going to be rather a radical departure
from the norm. The distinctive rear window was
always intended to be a feature, as some of the
July 1955 photographs illustrate. Other options
under consideration were front wheel drive (still
pretty novel in the mid 50s), automatic
transmission, a rear mounted engine and a
four-door version, which later went on to form
the basis of the Ford Classic.

The
following photos are taken from two Ford Motor
Company Manual's detailing the development of the
Anglia, and passed onto the Ford Anglia 105E
Owners Club Club by Roy Lunn of Florida, who
worked on the original design.

(taken from
Anglebox Volume 17 No 6)

An early clay
model of Project 195X dating from July 1955. This
mock-up was worked on by the american arm of
Ford. This was the design when the 3/8 scale
models were returned from the United States to
Britain.

A
rear view of the Van with small 300E style
windows, alternative tail light arrangement and
what appears to be some kind of venting set into
the the top of the doors.

A
once piece alternative rear door was also
proposed, with a larger glass area than the two
small rear windows.

Although
the Anglia Estate didn't appear until the autumn
of 1961, an Estate version was mocked up around
the same time as the saloon - meaning that this
particular variant was in development for almost
7 years. This prototype is completely
unrecognisable when compared when compared to
what finally rolled off the production line at
Dagenham.

The
Anglia Van is a similar story to the estate,
although models had been made early in the design
process, it took a further 2 years after the
Saloon was introduced for the official Van to
appear in 1961. These prototypes perhaps show the
biggest American influence in style, even down to
whitewall tyres on a humble commercial vehicle.

Please
feel free to email
me with
any other information or photographs pertaining
to any
Ford Anglia 105E Prototypes